Hey readers! I can’t believe it’s already September. Where has the summer gone?! I don’t know about you, but I did a LOT of reading this summer. (Like… 19+ books). Be sure to check out what I read this spring and my Safe At Home reading list, as well! I am also always posting what I’m reading on Instagram and Goodreads, so head over to those pages for more frequent updates on what I’m reading. Here is a recap of what I read and what I thought of them:
Happy & You Know It by Laura Hankin
I loved this book! It was a funny, quick read about the drama inside a prestigious NYC mother-toddler play group. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
Love, love, loved this book. Romance, mystery, body image… so good! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
This was the first book by a BIPOC author that I purposefully decided to read to understand other perspectives and broaden my own knowledge on the world/lived experience of BIPOC. This is a fiction book and talks about race, and so much more. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
If you know me, you know I am OBSESSED with Elin Hilderbrand (especially during the summer). This was Elin Hilderbrand’s newest release and I pre-ordered a signed copy from Nantucket Booksellers. This was definitely one of my favorite books she has ever written. Highly recommend! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
My Goodreads review: “I loved this book!! If you are a fan of The Bachelor, you will definitely like this book. There are so many references to the TV show, and the book brought the drama you’d expect from the show! Such a fun read, perfect for the beach!” This book also touched on body image, which I loved. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Nantucket Nights by Elin Hilderbrand
I think this is the first time giving Elin a 3-star review… This was one of her earlier books and it just wasn’t my favorite. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
GREAT book if you are a beginner in learning about racial inequities. The author spelled out so many terms in easy-to-understand language. I listened to the audio version and loved it. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward
This was a fun book to read about a family vacation from different perspectives! Very good book, but I wish there was more depth to the characters and/or the author wrote more about each of the stops they made on the vacation. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
I wanted to love this book, but it was just a really slow read for me. Loved the premise, but the whole time I felt like it was dragging. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum
I originally thought this was a memoir, but it was actually fiction. This was a fantastic book from the perspectives of multiple Arab-American girls. This book was heartbreaking and complex, and I highly recommend. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory
I love Jasmine Guillory’s books. This was the third in a series of 5 books. They are light-hearted fiction books, but they touch on important racial topics as well. Love this entire series! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
This book was interesting. It was very highly rated by some other bloggers that I follow, and I liked it, but I didn’t love it. It is told from multiple perspectives, and tells the story of twins who separate and live completely different lives. It touches on controversial racial issues, as well. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
This book was very meh for me. I LOVE The Office, so I was excited to listen to a light-hearted, funny book by Mindy Kaling. It was definitely light-hearted, but it left something to be desired. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
GREAT book. I flew through this book in a few days, and it had me literally laughing out loud at times. It was about two people who go on a fake honeymoon, and all of the drama that unfolds because of it. Highly recommend for a light, fun read. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory
This is the fifth book in Jasmine Guillory’s series! (I skipped the fourth one because it is about the holiday season and this is a series that does not have to be read in order. Saving #4 for Christmastime!) Loved this book, as well. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Great book, written by a father as a letter to his son. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Beach Club by Elin Hilderbrand
Another older Elin book that I hadn’t read yet. This book was good, but not her best. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
Fantastic book from the perspective of an attorney representing people who are incarcerated on death row. This was an eye-opening read, and really made me think about the systems we have in place. Highly recommend this one. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
I loved the content of this book, but I had a hard time getting through the hard copy. I find it much easier to read non-fiction in audio format, so I’d recommend listening to this one. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Currently Reading
Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland – I am a big fan of this book so far! The cover totally drew me in at Barnes & Noble for summertime.
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – I am currently listening to this on Scribd. I really like the premise of the book, but some of the narrator’s accents are hard to understand.
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad – I have been working through this book for over a month. I really love the content, but the journal prompts and reading one passage per day is hard for me to commit to. I need to finish this this month!
Next On My List
Hardcover: 📚
A Room Called Earth by Madeleine Ryan
The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper
Friends and Strangers by J. Courtney Sullivan
Audiobook: 🎧
The Truths We Hold: An American Journey by Kamala Harris
Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose by Joe Biden
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
Allison The OT 